Blog Archives

@Defuniak Springs

12/21/2021

The town was founded during the late 19th century as a resort development by the officers of the Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad, a subsidiary of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. The town contains several historically significant landmarks. The Walton County Library is located on Circle Drive, the oldest existing library in the state of Florida.[7] The library contains antiquities, including an impressive medieval weapon collection, in addition to many first-edition books. Also situated on Circle Drive are the Walton County Heritage Museum, housed in the former L&N railroad depot, and St. Agatha's Episcopal Church, built in 1895–1896.

Of special interest is the Walton-DeFuniak Library (noted above) which is in use today, in and has been in operation since 1887. Take the time to go inside, the librarians are pleasant and helpful and are happy to offer a mini guided tour. There are interesting exhibits inside, including a collection of medieval armor from the Crusades and muskets from the American colonial era.

Photo Opportunities (see www.whatthreewords.com locations by inserting 3 words into site)
.. Defuniak Historical District ... ///clambered.airship.squid
.. The Walton-DeFuniak Library - exterior and interior ... ///humbler.sensitivity.muddle
.. The former L&N railroad depot downtown - from the center tracks XXX see wiki for depot
.. The Big Little Store
.. Historical Buildings -

https://www.florida-backroads-travel.com/defuniak-springs-florida.html

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@Webster - Rickloam General Store

12/20/2021

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Take a step back in time to a working 1920's general store. All the products we offer are time period to the 20's and 30's. This must see/visit General Store served as the store, post office and train depot for the community of Richloam until 1936. In 2016 the building underwent a major restoration and after being closed for 81 years, the doors reopened February 2017.

In the late-19th Century, the Orange Belt Railway ran through eastern Hernando County, and was acquired by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1902. As with many rural communities in Florida, lumber mills were established along the line, prior to acquisition.
In 1921, the regional head of the ACL, moved the station southwest of Riverland to the community of Richloam. Postmaster Sidney Brinson moved the Riverland Post Office to Richloam in 1922, and a general store would soon follow. From that point on, the community resembled that of the Wild West. Chief among these instances was a gunfight over a dog that lead to the shooting of a Pasco County Deputy Sheriff. The store was rebuilt after a 1928 robbery and fire, but devastated by the Great Depression.[2]

Photo Ops:
Interior and Exterior building photos
Historical Marker
Post Office Boxes

Address: 38219 Richloam Clay Sink Road, Webster, Fl
W3W Grid ID ///sagas.minimal.stencil

Links of Interest:
Rickloam General Store http://www.richloamstore.com/

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@Wakulla Springs

12/20/2021

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The freshwater springs are among the largest and deepest in the world; about 600,000 gallons flow every minute. It stays at a cool 70 degrees all year round. Mastodon bones have been excavated from a cave that begins 120 feet below the surface.

Wakulla offers 30-minute river cruises in glass-bottom boats with dramatic views of swarming fish and other aquatic life, except when rain pollutes the springs with tannic acid from the surrounding vegetation and the water pollutes everything but pitch black.

A 'must stay' is a night in the Wakulla Springs Lodge. The Lodge at Wakulla Springs, in Wakulla Springs, Florida, is a hotel opened in 1937 by businessman Edward Ball. It was built during 1935-37. From the efforts of lodge management, Wakulla Springs became the site of filming of Creature from the Black Lagoon, early Tarzan films, and other films. It is a member of the Historic Hotels of America.

Photo Opportunities:
.. Exterior Lodge photos - early morning and night time
.. Interior Lobby and Dining Room (be sure to capture the ceiling)
.. Morning Mist - with cool ambient air and 70 degree springs water, watch the morning Vultures arrive
.. Tour photos

Links:
Wakulla https://bit.ly/3FeUHoF
Wakulla Springs https://www.visitflorida.com/places-to-go/north-central/wakulla-springs/
The Wakulla Lodge https://thelodgeatwakullasprings.com/
Wakulla Springs (Wiki) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wakulla_Springs

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@Pensacola - Fort Pickens

12/19/2021

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Fort Pickens is a pentagonal historic United States military fort on Santa Rosa Island in the Pensacola, Florida, area. It is named after American Revolutionary War hero Andrew Pickens.The fort was completed in 1834 and was one of the few forts in the South that remained in Union hands throughout the American Civil War. It remained in use until 1947. Fort Pickens is included within the Gulf Islands National Seashore.

Pickens guarded the island and the entrance to the harbor. Its construction was supervised by Colonel William H. Chase of the Corps of Army Engineer. Using slave labor, the fort used over twenty-two million bricks and was intended to be impregnable to attack.

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@Ybor City, Tampa - Little Havana

12/5/2021

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Ybor City is a historic neighborhood just northeast of downtown Tampa, Florida, United States. It was founded in the 1880s by Vicente Martinez-Ybor and other cigar manufacturers and populated by thousands of immigrants, mainly from Cuba, Spain, and Italy.

In its heyday Ybor City was once the cigar capital of the world where thousands of Cuban, Spanish and Latin workers produced cigars in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The area still retains its Latin legacy with it Spanish-style architecture, wrought iron balconies and cobblestone streets. Today, the area is a shopping and entertainment district with many shops, restaurants, bars and clubs.

From Tampa Today:
"The historic Latin quarter and former center of cigar manufacturing wears two hats today: a creamy Panama for daytime lunching, shopping, cigar smoking and coffee sipping, and a black fedora for the high-spirited playground it becomes at night."

To Do: Street walks (7th Ave); Cigar-making; Shopping; Sip Mojito's at the Columbia Restaurant at the bar; Dining; Tampa Bay Brewing Company; note: Off-street public parking available
About: To learn more about Ybor City - its history, geography, culture and more ... click here.
Photo Recommendations:
*The Trolley Station
*Centro Ybor (renamed) from across the street
*The Columbia Restaurant (and door)
*Cigar-making
*Street scenes and cigar shops in action
*Interior architecture of restaurants
*Nighttime - people gathering, shops
Other: Dining: Bernini Italian Restaurant for lunch and The Columbia for Mojito's (by the pitcher and at the bar)

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@Tarpon Springs

12/5/2021

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Tarpon Springs' charming downtown center is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors to the Historic District (waterfront) can stroll along brick streets while browsing in art galleries, antiques stores, and specialty shops housed in buildings dating from the late 1800s. Several great dining areas and activities for the family.

To Do: Visit the Welcome Center; Railway Station; Greek dining
About: To learn more about Tarpon Springs - its history, geography, culture and more ... click here.
Photo Recommendations: *The view from the bridge on US Alt 19 at sunset; *The view looking 'down river' from the parking lot at Sponge Arama; *The sponge boats loaded with sponges; *The lifeguard stand at Fred Howard at Sunset; *Nighttime street scenes; *Railroad Depot in town; *Tarpon Lake at Sunset); *St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral

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@Defuniak Springs

@Webster - Rickloam General Store

@Wakulla Springs

@Pensacola - Fort Pickens

@Ybor City, Tampa - Little Havana

@Tarpon Springs

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